Ask Alumni: From Dissertation to Opportunities

The Alumni Engagement Session conducted on May 2, 2026, served as an informative and interactive platform for students to gain practical guidance regarding dissertation writing, research topic selection, and academic and professional application processes. The session was led by Digangana Chanda, an alumnus of the department and currently working as a Junior Copywriter at Wavelength Communications. Her experience as both a former student and a working professional enabled her to provide valuable insights that connected academic learning with industry expectations. 

The session focused primarily on the transition from dissertation writing to future academic and professional pathways. The speaker discussed the importance of viewing the dissertation not merely as a compulsory academic requirement, but as a foundation for future research, publication, and career opportunities. Students were introduced to the possibilities of converting dissertation work into research papers and were guided on identifying suitable journals, conferences, and publication platforms relevant to their areas of interest. The discussion also included the importance of understanding publication ethics, journal credibility, indexing, and the peer-review process. 

A major segment of the session addressed the process of applying for PhD programmes. The speaker explained various aspects students should consider while preparing for doctoral studies, including identifying research interests, refining research proposals, and understanding university requirements. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of selecting suitable research mentors and supervisors. Students were guided on how to evaluate faculty profiles, research specialisations, publication records, and academic interests while shortlisting potential mentors. The session highlighted that choosing a mentor whose research interests align closely with the student’s own goals is essential for long-term academic growth and productive collaboration. 

The speaker also shared practical organisational strategies that students could use while preparing for higher studies and academic applications. These included maintaining detailed records of faculty information, deadlines, application requirements, research interests, and institutional expectations. Students were encouraged to create structured databases or spreadsheets to organise information related to universities, professors, funding opportunities, and application stages. The importance of professional communication through well-structured emails and statements of purpose was also discussed in detail. 

In addition to academic guidance, the session provided students with a realistic understanding of the challenges involved in research careers and higher education pathways. The speaker shared personal experiences regarding academic planning, professional development, and adapting research skills to practical work environments. These insights made the session highly relatable and helped students better understand the expectations of both academia and industry. 

Overall, the Alumni Engagement Session proved to be highly informative and relevant. It expanded students’ understanding of the opportunities available after dissertation completion and equipped them with practical knowledge regarding publication processes, PhD applications, mentor selection, and academic organisation. The event successfully bridged the gap between academic research and future career planning while strengthening the connection between alumni and current students.